title: Measuring behavioral regulation in four societies.
abstract: The present study examined the psychometric properties of scores from a direct measure of behavioral regulation, the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task (HTKS) with 3- to 6-year-old children in the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, and China. Specifically, we investigated (a) the nature and variability of HTKS scores, including relations to teacher-rated classroom behavioral regulation; and (b) relations between the HTKS and early mathematics, vocabulary, and literacy skills. Higher HTKS scores were significantly related to higher teacher ratings of classroom behavioral regulation in the United States and South Korea but not in Taiwan and China. Also, higher HTKS scores were significantly related to higher early mathematics, vocabulary, and literacy skills beyond the influence of demographic variables and teacher-rated classroom behavioral regulation. These initial findings suggest that HTKS scores may be interpreted as reflecting early behavioral regulation in these 4 societies and that behavioral regulation is important for early academic success in the United States and in Asian countries.
authors.affiliation: Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. shannonwanless@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shannon B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wanless
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McClelland
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Acock
authors.forename: Claire C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ponitz
authors.forename: Seung-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Xuezhao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Jo-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fu-Mei
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kangyi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Miyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D032763:Behavior Control / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012574:Schools / Q000592:standards; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013624:Taiwan; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States